February 2021 Magazine

Writers on a New England Stage Livestream REBECCA CARROLL 2/2

Live at the Historic Theater & Livestream LIVINGSTON TAYLOR 2/20

Writers on a New England Stage Livestream DIANE REHM 2/23*

KEEPING YOU SAFE DURING COVID-19

For the most up-to-date information visit: TheMusicHall.org/Reopening

What We’re Doing to Keep You and Our Staff Safe:

• We are following guidance issued by the Governor’s task force and CDC, as well as adding other safety measures.

• Staff and volunteers will be wearing masks and PPE.

• We’ve upgraded our HVAC system to include medical grade filters and an iWave ionization component. We are also changing filters more often and increasing the circulation rates on a 24-hour cycle.

• We’re seating our patrons with 6 feet of space in all directions in between other parties.

What We’re Asking You to Do When You Visit:

• If you are feeling sick, have symptoms of COVID-19 or if you have been exposed to someone who has tested positive to COVID-19, please stay home!

• We ask that you wear a mask in all communal areas. You may remove your mask while sitting in your seat, but please wear your mask while entering, exiting, and if you visit concessions or the restrooms.

• The ticket purchaser name will be on the seats with white bands, please do not move these bands around the chairs or remove the name cards themselves. Do not sit in the seats with black bands.

CELEBRATING COMMUNITY

Valentine Wishes

GAIL VANHOY CAROLAN, Director of Institutional Advancement

This Valentine’s Day, it’s time to share our love and appreciation. For you, our members. For our major donors and Corporate Partners. For our state representatives who allocated CARES Act funds to The Music Hall and fought for the Save Our Stages Act. For everyone who contributed to our Emergency Relief Fund. For those of you who weren’t able to contribute, but stayed in touch. For those of you who increased your support this year, allowing time to let others recover. Thank you. The love and support we have felt these past months has buoyed our spirits.

We miss our wonderful gatherings, the full houses where we share community, unique experiences, and access that delights. We know as well, that the need for our education and outreach services will be greater than ever as we emerge from this pandemic. Because of you, we are confident that The Music Hall will continue to be key to Portsmouth’s future as a bustling, vibrant downtown. We look forward to the time when it is our turn to contribute to the renewed vitality of our Seacoast region, providing uplifting experiences and building the community social capital that will make the hard work ahead manageable. We thank you for your role in making this possible. Cupid couldn’t have found The Music Hall a better match.

Black History Month: Lift and Amplify

As part of our commitment to our community, we continue to recognize and celebrate the diversity around us. The arts have always been a place for creativity and inclusion—and it is our duty as a safe gathering space to honor the needs of all who join us in our theaters. We strive to always be inclusive of diverse voices in our programming, this month and well beyond. We invite you to join us in celebrating Black History Month by attending one of our events or one of the Black Heritage Trail of NH’s events. Their inspiring programming and mission promote the building of more inclusive communities in our area—we are looking forward to working together this month and encourage you to check out their programs as well.

We are honored to invite Black culture critic Rebecca Carroll to the Writers on a New England Stage series with New Hampshire Public Radio on February 2, as she shares her childhood of growing up in very white New Hampshire. On February 17, the documentary Black Ballerina tells the story of several Black women breaking into the overwhelmingly white world of ballet. And Jelani Remy visits The Music Hall on February 26, fresh off of his Broadway run of Ain’t Too Proud: The Life and Times of the Temptations.

In keeping with The Music Hall’s mission as an anchor arts and cultural institution, we will continue to lift and amplify the diverse voices of our community members, artists, authors, and thoughtleaders.

SPONSOR SPOTLIGHT

XOXO Corporate Partners!

Corporate Partners, thank you. We will be forever grateful to those of you who were able to step up and support us these many months as we worked to maintain a presence in our community, provide socially-distanced entertainment, retain our core group of arts professionals, and demonstrate our gratitude to our devoted friends and family.

Speaking of demonstrating gratitude, this is the perfect opportunity to acknowledge a handful of our unsung superstar sponsors. If you have the opportunity, please join us in thanking Auger Building Company, Lake Street Advisors, Meredith Village Savings Bank, and Summit Supply. While our major programming is on hold, these Corporate Partners have been patiently waiting in the wings, uncredited, while still carrying the load. Other key donors who have been on stand-by for recognition include Avery Insurance; Eastern Bank; Leone, McDonnell and Roberts, PA; Petersen Engineering; and ReVision Energy. We must also sing the praises of the University of New Hampshire, our Contributing Partner, who renewed their support and committed to strengthening our programs with an investment of time and talent.

We are fortunate to count these incredible organizations among our friends and fans. We eagerly anticipate the time when we are once again able to publicly celebrate their support from our stages.

Thank you to our Corporate Partners

Mon., 2/8 • 6pm Historic Theater & Livestream For more information, contact Wes Lovell at 603.766.2182 or WLovell@themusichall.org

ON STAGE/ONLINE FEBRUARY & MARCH

WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN:

PRESENTING SPONSOR: SERIES SPONSORS:

WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE REBECCA CARROLL

Tue., February 2 • 7pm • Livestream

A stirring and powerful memoir recounting Black cultural critic Rebecca Carroll’s painful struggle to overcome a completely white childhood in rural NH in order to forge her identity as a Black woman in America.

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER VAPORS OF MORPHINE

Fri., February 19 • 8pm • Historic Theater & Livestream

Vapors of Morphine is a Boston-based rock band with an unusual lineup, dreamy soundscapes, and inventive arrangements.

WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE DIANE REHM

Tue., February 23 7pm Livestream

A candid, compassionate consideration of the Right-to-Die movement, from the advocate, renowned radio host, and bestselling author, Diane Rehm, one of the most trusted voices in the nation.

MEDIA PARTNER:

PRESENTING CINEMA SPONSOR:

WILDCARD SERIES SPONSORS: Cocked Hat Ventures; The Hippo; RAM Printing

WILDCARD MOVIE BLACK BALLERINA

Wed., February 17 • 7pm • Historic Theater

The story of several Black women from different generations who fell in love with ballet and faced formidable challenges; the film shows how far we still have to go.

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER LIVINGSTON TAYLOR

Sat., February 20 • 8pm • Historic Theater & Livestream

Livingston Taylor’s career as a professional musician has spanned over 50 years, having recorded with the likes of brother James Taylor, Joni Mitchell, Linda Ronstadt, Fleetwood Mac, and Jimmy Buffet.

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER JELANI REMY

Fri., February 26 8pm Historic Theater

Fresh off his Broadway run of Ain’t Too Proud, Jelani Remy brings Music Hall audiences a feast of pop and musical theatre songs in his own energetic style for a magical night of lyrics and laughter.

ON STAGE/ONLINE FEBRUARY & MARCH

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER SERIES SPONSORS:

LIVE STREAM PARTNER: PARMA Recordings

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER MARTIN SEXTON

Sat., February 27 • 8pm • Historic Theater & Livestream

Singer-songwriter Martin Sexton made his mark with soulful, contemporary music, and was dubbed by Billboard as “the real thing, people.”

WRITERS IN THE LOFT C.J. BOX

Tue., March 9 • 7pm • Livestream

C.J. Box is back with a thrilling new adventure for Wyoming game warden Joe Pickett. Don’t miss the latest mystery from the #1 New York Times bestselling author.

WRITERS IN THE LOFT

ADMIRAL JIM STAVRIDIS & ELLIOT ACKERMAN

Tue., March 16 • 7pm • Livestream

An authentic geopolitical thriller written by two former military officers and award-winning authors.

HILARITY SERIES SPONSORS:

WRITERS ON A NEW ENGLAND STAGE PAUL KRUGMAN

Tue., March 2 • 7pm • Livestream

Nobel prize-winning economist, The New York Times columnist, and bestselling author Paul Krugman offers an accessible, compelling introduction to today’s major policy issues.

HILARITY SAINT PATRICK’S DAY COMEDY & DANCE SPECTACULAR

Sat., March 13 • 8pm • Historic Theater

The best place to be on this Saint Patrick’s day is The Music Hall to celebrate with Celtic step dancing, music, and hilarious comedy.

LIVE AT THE HISTORIC THEATER THE BUSTED JUG BAND

Sat., March 20 8pm Historic Theater

The Busted Jug Band’s music is a festive and fun romp through time, playing swing, blues, and novelty music on an assortment of instruments, including everything from washboard to mandolin, to rubber chickens.

Sponsors Contribute to Our Mission

Our partnership with New Hampshire Public Radio gives people across the state the ability to hear from internationally acclaimed authors (produced and secured by Music Hall curators) by broadcasting our Writers on a New England Stage programs. This partnership, and the resulting widespread reach, would not be possible without the contributions of several sponsors.

Writers on a New England Stage Presenting Sponsors

Series Sponsors

Other Presenting and Series Sponsors of note include:

Intimately Yours Series Sponsors

NHPR’s Innovation Brings News, Art, and Authors

New Hampshire Public Radio’s partnership with The Music Hall extends to years of Writers on a New England Stage and Innovation + Leadership series. In 2020, their reporting and coverage were firstrate and inspiring. We spoke with Patricia McLaughlin, Director of Communications and Marketing, about this partnership.

Thank you to New Hampshire Public Radio for all of its reporting during COVID-19, the 2020 Election, and throughout the state. It starts and ends with the shared commitment to excellence by our staff. From politics to public health, these are stories that involve profound stakes for individuals, for our communities, and for our nation. We take that responsibility seriously. The pandemic required us to quickly acclimate to working remotely and reporting in a new-fashioned manner, and we will continue to be creative and flexible in our approach as the pandemic continues and other key reporting initiatives emerge.

What does the partnership between NHPR and The Music Hall bring to New Hampshire? Why is it essential, especially during such difficult times?

Cultural and artistic institutions like The Music Hall provide richness and color to our everyday lives here in New Hampshire. In challenging times, when things seem gray—it’s important to seek and find color! Art, music, ideas, authors, and creative individuals prompt us all to create, question, converse, and bring new perspectives to our world—perspectives that are so important right now. Writers on a New England Stage is one such endeavor that does just that.

Due to the pandemic, Writers on a New England Stage went virtual. How has this changed the landscape of the series and what doors have been opened?

I think it’s really important to focus on silver linings these days. We certainly miss the connection and immediacy provided by a live event with the community. But on the other hand, anyone from anywhere can now boot up their computer and be a part of this experience. Being able to be an active participant in the online conversation and seeing authors up close brings a new intimacy to the platform, and we’re excited to continue to explore the possibilities around this new set-up.

Innovation + Leadership Series Sponsors

Bangor Savings Bank

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Hilarity Series Sponsors

Presenting Cinema Sponsor

NHPR is also an Innovation + Leadership series sponsor, which includes the global lecture series, CreativeMornings PKX. How does engaging in this series benefit NHPR’s mission?

Public media is an exchange of information, ideas, and we like to say—inspiration! The Innovation + Leadership series offers participants the chance to delve into a topic of interest, or learn something new. Always learning, always exploring syncs up exactly with the interests of public media listeners, who tend to be curious knowledge seekers as well.

CreativeMornings brings people together from all walks of life...There’s never been a time when I haven’t attended a CreativeMornings session (in-person and now in the virtual space) without walking away feeling better for the day to come. Speakers bring their stories and openly share their ideas, their vulnerabilities, their challenges, and their solutions—all built around the common global theme. That spirit of openness and inclusivity really fuels a community feel, not only for the community of Portsmouth attendees, but as a part of feeling connected to this broader global movement. We at NHPR are proud to be able to have a presence at this event through our partnership with The Music Hall, as a way to share our mission, our news, and our programming with a wider audience.

HERE & NOW

Shining Light on Our Community

This time of year, late winter, can be a dark time. But at The Music Hall we are fortunate to have The Lighting Center at Rockingham Electric to illuminate our scene. Our friends at The Lighting Center are responsible for many of the fixtures that light our spaces, including that gorgeous chandelier that brings glamour and drama to the Historic Theater. They’ve also been brightening our days as a sponsor since 2004

Folks have been forced to make difficult decisions about how to use their resources these past few months. That makes us even more

grateful to those of you like Jim Pender, President of The Lighting Center, who, recognizing the value of constancy, found a way to continue his support for The Music Hall. We talked with Jim about how his team, like us, is working to emerge from this crisis a better, stronger organization ready to contribute to the renewed vibrancy of our region.

You are so committed to The Music Hall and the Seacoast arts community. Why?

As a family we’ve watched the transformation and growth of The Music Hall through the years. Our love for music, combined with having an amazing facility right in our backyard, has always kept us committed.

The past year inspired us to get creative. How has The Lighting Center adapted?

Just prior to early 2020, we made the commitment to strengthening our online catalog and bettering the user experience for customers. We were able to fast-track our process and now have a new website with online shopping. Our showroom is still open to customers and our designers are still actively engaged and available, but this gives customers the option to browse and purchase from the comfort of their own home.

It’s easy to purchase a ticket online, but top-notch, personal service distinguishes us. Do you think the personal touch will retain its value following the current crisis?

Absolutely. Because lighting is based on one’s personal style and preferences, there is a certain level of emotional commitment to the purchase. The Lighting Center has a long-standing tradition of reliability and dedication from our expert staff and designers….solely based on the personal touch that they are able to offer.

We’ve worked hard to creatively adapt to our situation, introducing new series during the past several months. What’s been your favorite?

We were fortunate to attend the Stage Door Concert series as well as Live Under the Arch and enjoyed them both. We’re hoping that as we move into the next phase of normal, some of these great new options will stick around.

Enduring Support

This season we have been humbled to receive renewed support from several of our longest standing sponsors. The River House restaurant of the Labrie Group, our first-ever Season Sponsor, is celebrating their 10th year in this lead role. Also marking significant anniversaries are Harbour Women’s Health (20 years), TMS Architects (20 years), and Piscataqua Savings Bank (19 years).

We are fortunate to welcome new sponsors as well, including Market Square Architects, PARMA Recordings, and Sheehan Phinney, all of whom signed on for a first year this season. We offer special thanks to Paul and Jessica McKeon, who, recognizing the need, signed on to underwrite the Stage Door Cabaret series.

These new partners, and our partners who were able to increase their support, provided relief to let others recover. We look forward to reconnecting with those who had to step back this year, including our good friends at C&J Bus Lines. Support means more than financial contributions; we appreciate their advocacy on our behalf, at the federal, state, and local levels. We consider you all to be members of The Music Hall family, a designation that endures!

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

BOX OFFICE SPONSOR

2020-2021 SEASON SPONSORS

CONTRIBUTING PARTNERS

$15,000+

Paul & Jessica McKeon

$10,000+

THANK YOU TO OUR CORPORATE PARTNERS

$5,000+

Atlantic Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine

Avery Insurance*

Bangor Savings Bank

Carpe Diem Coffee Roasting Co.**

Eastern Bank

Leone, McDonnell & Roberts, P.A.**

Newburyport Bank*

PARMA Recordings

Petersen Engineering

Wells Fargo Advisors**

$2,500+

AARP New Hampshire

AC Hotel Marriott

BANKW Staffing*

Beswick Engineering** Bluedrop Water

Cocked Hat Ventures**

DF Richard Energy**

Donahue, Tucker & Ciandella, PLLC** Flote

Harbour Women’s Health** Mad*Pow*

Market Square Architects

Northeast Delta Dental**

oHive**

Piscataqua Savings Bank**

Prime Buchholz & Associates, Inc.**

Sheehan Phinney

Whole Life Health Care**

SUPPORTERS

Cognia

Digital Prospectors**

Harbor Advisory Corporation*

Northern Benefits

Popzup Popcorn

The Portsmouth Brewery**

Primmer Piper Eggleston & Cramer PC TMS Architects**

Troiano Wealth Advisory Group**

MEDIA PARTNERS

City of Portsmouth**

Clear Eye Photo**

Discover Portsmouth*

Homes + Land Magazine

Infinite Imaging*

Live Free Print & Frame*

New Hampshire Gazette** PortsmouthNH.com**

Southport Printing

PUBLIC SUPPORT

Investing in the Arts

We thank Governor Sununu and all those who served in and advised his Office for Emergency Relief and Recovery (GOFERR), as well as the champions of the Save Our Stages Act, for recognizing the role of the arts in creating a thriving community and a healthy economy.

We are also grateful to the NH Charitable Foundation, the NH Center for Nonprofits, and the NH Community Development Finance Authority for taking on the responsibility of distributing CARES Act funds to New Hampshire nonprofits, and to the NH State Council on the Arts for administering CARES Act funds from the National Endowment for the Arts. We appreciated the chance to share our perspective with representatives from these organizations, as well as the opportunity to participate in joint efforts with our fellow historic theaters.

State and Federal fund allocations are providing essential support for The Music Hall, helping us to retain our core team of arts professionals and make investments to adapt. By allowing us to stay connected with our community and maintain steadfast relationships with donors and corporate sponsors, these funds put us in the best position to contribute to the Seacoast region as conditions change.

To all of you who advocated for these funds on our behalf, and on behalf of all the organizations serving the people of New Hampshire, thank you. We are grateful for your service and your recognition.

Thanks for Your Support and Saving Our Stage

Please join us in voicing our appreciation for our state representatives who advocated for and supported the Save Our Stages Act and its incorporation into the most recent federal stimulus bill. Thanks also to all of you who spoke up on social media, picked up the phone, or sent letters on behalf of The Music Hall and the movement to help theaters across the country that have been deeply affected by the pandemic. Together, we can ensure our theater’s place in our community for generations to come.

AT A GLANCE

FEBRUARY 2021

Writers on a New England Stage

Rebecca Carroll (Livestream)

Tuesday, February 2 • 7pm

Rental Partner

Mike McDonald’s Comedy Extravaganza

Saturday, February 13 • 8pm

Wildcard Movie

Black Ballerina

Wednesday, February 17 • 7pm

Live at the Historic Theater Vapors of Morphine*

Friday, February 19 • 8pm

Live at the Historic Theater

Livingston Taylor*

Saturday, February 20 • 8pm

Writers on a New England Stage

Diane Rehm (Livestream)

Tuesday, February 23 • 7pm

Live at the Historic Theater Jelani Remy

Friday, February 26 • 8pm

* These shows will also be livestreamed, for more information, please visit our website.

MARCH 2021

Writers on a New England Stage

Paul Krugman (Livestream)

Tuesday, March 2 • 7pm

Writers in the Loft C. J. Box (Livestream)

Tuesday, March 9 • 7pm

Hilarity

Saint Patrick’s Day Comedy and Dance Spectacular

Saturday, March 13 • 8pm

Writers in the Loft

Admiral Jim Stavridis & Elliot Ackerman (Livestream)

Tuesday, March 16 • 7pm

Live at the Historic Theater

The Busted Jug Band

Saturday, March 20 • 8pm

Live at the Historic Theater Martin Sexton* Saturday, February 27 • 8pm At the Historic Theater At the Loft Offsite/Online

Chestnut Street